Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Opening Acclamation: “Blessed is the kingdom…”
Great Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
First Antiphon. Verses (Choir) & Refrain: “Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Second Antiphon. Verses (Choir) & Refrain: “O Son of God, Who wast risen from the dead, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia.”
“Only-begotten Son and Word of God Who art immortal, Thou didst take on Thee for our salvation to be incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change wast made man; and wast crucified also, O Christ our God; and by Thy Death hast death subdued; Who art One of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: O save, O save us; O save, O save us; O save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Third Antiphon, during the Little Entrance. The Beatitudes (All).
“In Thy Kingdom, remember us O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and shall persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.”
Entrance Hymn, the Eisodikon (All). “Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ! O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.”
Hymns of the Day.
Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6 (All).
“When Mary stood at Thy grave looking for Thy sacred Body, angelic pow’rs shone above Thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby; Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give Life to the world; O Thou Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.”
Troparion of the Forerunner, Tone 2 (Choir).
“The Forerunner’s sacred head, having dawned forth from the earth, doth send incorruption’s rays unto the faithful, whereby they find healings of their ills. From on high, he gathereth the choirs of angels, and on earth he summoneth the whole race of mankind, that they with one voice might send up glory to Christ our God.”
Troparion of St. Joseph, Tone 2 (All).
“Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the ancestor of God, the amazing wonders, for by the angel they were revealed unto thee. For thou hast seen a Virgin great with child, and thou gave glory with the shepherds and didst worship with the Magi. Wherefore plead with Christ God to save our souls.”
Kontakion of the Prodigal Son , Tone 3 (All).
“I have foolishly run away from thy fatherly glory, and I have wasted in evil deeds the wealth which thou gavest me. Wherefore, I cry to thee with the voice of the prodigal: I have sinned before thee, O merciful Father. Receive me who repent, and make me as one of thy hired servants.”
Trisagion Prayer and Hymn. “Lord, have mercy.”
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Alleluia.” (3x)
The Readings. Priest: “Let us attend! Wisdom!”
Prokeimenon, Tone 7 (Chanter).
“The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him. Hearken, O God, unto my voice when I make supplication unto Thee!”
Brethren, it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believe, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.
Alleluia and Verses with Censing (Apostolos 374 & 163, Chanter).
Priest: “Wisdom! Let us attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be to all.”
At that time, Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed
swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Sermon.
Prayers of the Catechumens and the Faithful . “Lord, have mercy.”
Great Entrance: Cherubimic Prayer & Hymn.
“All we that in myst’ry holy Cherubim portray, as the Life-creating Trinity with thrice-holy song we adore and praise. Come, let us cast off all earthly care, and forget, and forget every vain employ.” (Repeat.)
“For the King of All comes in triumph by unseen Hosts of Angels brought to us that bid Him welcome. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
Litany of the Prothesis and the Peace . “Lord, have mercy.” “Grant this…” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Priest: “Peace be to all. Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess:”
“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in Essence and undivided.”
The Nicene Creed . Priest: “The Doors! The Doors! In wisdom let us attend.”
“I believe in one God...”
Eucharistic Prayer of St. John Chrysostom.
Anaphora. “A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.”
Priest: “Let us lift up our hearts.”
“We lift them up unto the Lord.”
Priest: “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”
“It is meet and right to worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in Essence, and undivided.”
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth: heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”
The Prayers of Consecration.
Priest: “Take, eat: this is My Body which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins. Drink ye this: this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins. Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, in behalf of all, and for all.”
“We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, and we pray unto Thee, O our God, our God.”
Priest: “Make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ; and that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ; changing them by thy Holy Spirit.”
“Amen, amen, amen.”
Megalynarion, Tone 1 (All).
“It is truly meet to call thee blessed, Lady Theotokos; Lady ever greatly blessed and most perfect in innocence and the Mother of our God. Lady more precious than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond all measure than the seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, and art truly Theotokos: we magnify thee, we magnify thee.”
The Litany before the Lord’s Prayer. “Lord, have mercy.” “Grant this...” “To Thee, O Lord.”
The Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name…”
Priest: “Peace be to all. Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.”
The Elevation. Priest: “Let us attend! The Holy things are for the Holy.”
“One is Holy, One is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.”
Communion Prayers.
“I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is truly Thine own immaculate Body, and that this is truly Thine own precious Blood. Wherefore I pray Thee, have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance; and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Thine immaculate Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.”
“Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant, for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom. Not unto judgment nor unto condemnation be my partaking of Thy Holy Mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.”
Communion Hymns, the Koinonikon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All): “Praise ye the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
“Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; the Lord is God and hath revealed himself unto us.”
Communion.
Receiving Holy Communion unites us with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Bishop, and with all the Orthodox in heaven and earth. Only baptized and/or chrismated Orthodox Christians who are not
under penance and have prepared by fasting and frequent confession are invited and encouraged to receive communion as spiritual food, for the healing of soul and body and as a sign of forgiveness of sins.
Post-Communion Hymns. Priest: “O God, save Thy people and bless thine inheritance.”
“We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity: for He hath saved us.”
“Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory; for Thou hast permitted us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries. Keep us in Thy Sanctification, that all the day we may meditate on Thy righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
Litany of Thanksgiving and the Prayer behind the Ambon. “Lord, have mercy.”
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forever.” (3x)
Dismissal and Final Blessing. “Lord, have mercy.”
Parish Announcements .